Queensland State Government accused of trying to cover up volume of harmful dust emanating from suburban coal train loads

HUNDREDS more coal trains are set to roll through suburban rail corridors, as the State Government is accused of trying to cover up the volume of potentially harmful dust emanating from the loads.

The number of coal trains passing through dozens of suburbs in Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba could double under the Port of Brisbane's long-term plan to expand coal exports from Fisherman's Island.

But concerns are mounting over the health risks to residents, with 9 million tonnes of coal already shipped through up to 30 suburbs each year, including Darra, Goodna, Tennyson, Yeronga, Coorparoo, Norman Park and Lindum.

As the wind can carry coal dust for kilometres, tens of thousands of urban residents are in the firing line.

Some medical experts say coal dust can cause respiratory problems among vulnerable populations and pose a risk of long-term lung and heart disease.

Queensland Health has denied residents are at any risk from the dust, claiming current levels fall within safe guidelines.

Air testing conducted by the State Government will be released next month, but residents and anti-coal-train campaigners claim the testing was skewed.

They say the trains operated on a go-slow through test sites during the period, reducing the volume of dust spread.

Stop Brisbane Coal Trains (SBCT) spokesman John Gordon also claimed the testing regimen was "bogus" because it was done at only three sites in one suburb.

"It was not a thorough investigation," he said.

"The train drivers appear to have known exactly where the testing is being done. And if it was a fair dinkum investigation they would be doing it at all points on the line, not one site."

Biochemist Dr Chris Elvin, who lives near the rail line in Tennyson, said he and his neighbours believed the testing had been skewed by coal trains slowing down during the test period.

QR National denied the accusations that a go-slow for the trains was in place.

A spokesman said there was no incentive for train drivers to slow down or behave differently during the testing period.

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The testing was conducted by the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA) at Tennyson in Brisbane's south in September, following complaints by residents to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) about the health risks.

Dr Christine Williams, DSITIA Assistant Director-General Science Delivery Division, said it was not intended to be a study of the complete rail corridor but only a local study to assess the validity of the complaints.

She said the results would be used to assess what further action may need to be taken.

The new testing for coal dust comes as the number of coal trains travelling from three Darling Downs mining companies along the suburban rail network continues to rise. An estimated 9.2 million tonnes of coal is expected to be exported from the Port of Brisbane this financial year, up from 6.3 million in 2009-10.

Already, up to 90 return-journey trains a week use the network, depending on demand and network capacity.

Reports say the Port of Brisbane plans to increase capacity by one to two million tonnes a year. A long-term doubling of capacity to 20 million tonnes would require investment in existing infrastructure or a new rail line.

Dr Lidia Morawska, an air-quality expert at the Queensland University of Technology, said the Government had been remiss in not doing enough testing along the coal train corridor.

"Queensland Health is not interested in anything to do with preventative health," she said. "Coal particulates have the potential to be dangerous."

A short-term, one-site air-quality test wasn't enough, she said.

Queensland Rail General Manager Access and Commercial, Tim Ripper, said QR was working with the State Government, Port of Brisbane and the mines "to establish a dust monitoring program for the West Moreton line".

At least one coal company, the New Hope Group, has announced plans to spray an adhesive on the coal carted through Brisbane, with the "veneering" process thought to reduce dust.

Two other companies, Peabody Energy and YanCoal, said they had no plans to use a veneer.

LNP Member for Yeerongpilly, Carl Judge, who pushed his own government to conduct the testing, said veneering could help stop the spread of coal dust. He said results from the recent tests were needed to determine the concentration levels of coal dust particulates.

"I've had enough people contact me about the issue that I've pursued it," he said. "These are not hysterical people. A lot of people interested in the issue are very reasonable."

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